adventures of a city girl gone country

Author: thegoodlifeinwisconsin

I am SO moved to climb out of my everyday in everyway personal drama: projects, poems, joys, dreams, and work and such…

I spent too much time yesterday listening to the audio of the gunfire that killed and wounded so many.

The rest of us are the walking wounded. Driving dumbfounded. Baking depressed…

Doesn’t this horrific crime make us realize if we didn’t already, that THE Enemy, the Opposition, the Blameable has nothing to do with skin color. It’s skin. Covers the skeleton. And guts. Of another Human.

I have been deep in my head and my heart lately and by lately I mean a few months.

The Spring and Summer here on the old Farmstead is filled with chores and frustrations. But I wouldn’t know because I planted my veggies in pots on the patio and left them with dad and ran off to explore the rivers and beaches and towns…

Oh it is so dang beautiful here in Wisconsin. The air is magnificent. The lakes are clear and the beer flows like wine.😊

And then I got Lymes Disease.

I also got Anaplasmosis at the same time and while it tried to kill me, it saved my life. The jokes on it… Or them.

There is more than one tickbourne illness out there. Don’t let it stop you from living and loving what you love. Don’t let anything stop you. It is an organism here on Earth and is just doing what it is supposed to do. It is a product of the science of the Earth today and also it’s environment. Hmmm. It’s science. There is nothing to be afraid of…

So that happened and I am recovering and I knew I then and I know it now, it is a small issue, a bump, a wake up call.

<insert gross picture of a wood tick here>

Everything dies eventually. Well maybe not light or wind or taxes but you know what I mean.

We should all be allowed to live out our natural lives without fear of everything on the news today. AND, the worse stuff they don’t broadcast.

Hurricanes and Earthquakes and Tornados and Floods were here long before us. They will be here if we are gone.

But not bombs or shooters or genocide or pollution. Not the garbage islands floating in the ocean. For sure not the halo of garbage of broken destroyed satellites that surrounds our beloved planet. Yeah can you take a sec and just Google those two things? Then just also look into the Great Coral Reef. Don’t be mad or sad just see and know and think and we will do… Don’t forget!

So. I have come to the feverish opinion, (103 for 3 days give or take), that maybe let’s not focus on the Past and Patriotism per se.

Maybe it’s OK to celebrate the brains that God created and let those scientists teach us about our collective interest; air, water, food, other Species, and to respect our short lives and the ones that will hopefully come after us.

It might be OK to advocate for the future of our species and others on this planet instead of preparing blame for the demise? No one will be around to hear it and if they are that will surely not care…other fish to fry.

P.s Trees and Bees are worth way more than money. More on that soonish.❤️

The Dark and Cold and Dry Winter both inside and out shoveled me into digging around this BIG old house.

My Grandfather built this home with the undeniable and immense effort of my Grandmother…

And his friends and his neighbors and surely some strangers too.

I found many many photographs.

They had spent the first years of their marriage in the City of Minneapolis and my Grandpa raked in some cash building the new highways… Thank You, Franklin D. Roosevelt!

She was 37 and a Roller Derby quality woman. Trust me. Frances the Riveter. Grandpa was either brilliant or lucky or both.

As a family, She, He, and my Dad and his older brother Robert and his younger brother Orville gathered and piled at least 50 TONS of rock. That is 50 piles of 1000 pounds. At least. This land was at the tip of the last Glacial advance.

Do you need rocks? Get a truck and come on! Here’s one pile…

This is where anything metal went when it was done; this is metal Heaven.

I have always loved History. Wait that is not true. I began to be intrigued by different points of view of History when I attended a Woman’s History class at the Community College in Minneapolis when my son finally went to Kindergarten. Then, I took Native American Art and History. Then, I took African American Art and History. You can see where this goes.

History is truly relative and biased by the storyteller. It is not fake History but it is History from one perspective. Right? No foul just know that Humans tell the story from their point of view.

And Sometimes they twist things to influence you. Just Sayin’.

There is no doubt that Science shows us that the Earth has Its’ own cycles and a Billion year old history; I can’t or couldn’t understand why some Humans don’t pick up on the reality of Science.

Why is Science such Witchcraft?

Butthe extremely biased and debatable History, which, if not completely true and if you were not there can you really be sure it is true, is swallowed and revered and defended with awful words and fighting and guns and something called Collateral Damage.

Why should yesterday condemn today?

Can you Pleeeaase follow me into the Past and realize that unless you are actively seeking out information and facts and Science and also understandingthat you are a beautiful biological Human Being with a brainthat has been studied and studied and manipulated for persuasion and $$profit$$ and power you are not living the life you were meant to live. Flip your switch.

I think we have two choices:

One is to let it happen. Everyone who is alive today will be DEAD in 100 years.

Just chill. Keep on keepin, on. Run on the hamster wheel of life.

Or: We chime in and join in and step up and really swallow the state of affairs here and everywhere and your vote really matters. Screw Netflix (for now)…

In 1923 we as Humans learned to communicate via radio; before radio all we had was S.O.S. in Morse Code. Seriously MORSE CODE.

We need help.

Not from the outside but the inside. I mean we need help to inspire the inside of our Human Humane souls. I want to help.

While today was declared Loyalty Day by this President and was called this before only once in 1921, it is a day with a ton of History.

As a girl I made May baskets and loved and still love leaving treats for cherished ones to find…

I had no idea about the not fake History I want to share today.

So.

As Europe became Christianized, the Pagan holidays lost their traditions and either became popular Secular celebrations or, were merged with, or replaced with, Christian holidays.

Understandable.

Nevertheless…

This thing really starts with a celebration of the Roman Goddess Floralia.

The Ancient Roman Goddess of Flowers, Vegetation, and Fertility.

This is truly a cause to consider and also celebrate and cherish. I will be working something up for next year! Come and see!

An Awareness of the fragile Ecosystem seems kind of key to sustaining Human life.

Maybe? Not Maybe. Not Fake.

In 1921, and then also today the Government asked for loyalty and solidarity and patriotism. It is ironic in that in 1921 everyone was very concerned with Russian influence here in America. Please wake up.

OOH I know you see the tangles and the crap but maybe also the jewels?

I am the Jewels.

There is no better time and/ or no better reason for you to get fussy and vocal. Vote with your dollars. This is NOT an unprecedented political environment but this time the Crossroads loom. Even if it’s too late for the Earth it is NOT too late for you. or me.

I get all warm and flowy inside when I look at old Trees… Like old Houses and old People and old Dogs they just exude Wisdom and History and Gentleness…

Turn your dial to hear it if you can’t. It is there.

Back to my story that I just want to SHARE with you and it has been with me for years…

For you I did more in depth research and thus, if not for you , I would not be as twisty and bright as I am right now. Thank You!

I have a very strong Nordic Heritage. Back in the day the, ” Country”, was a line drawn on a piece of paper and the more I learn, the more I realize that it was about Clans, and Tribes and Family traditions and stories and Communities…

Folklore sounds like a fairytale or does a Fairytale sound like Folklore?

They both sound like makebelieve, but are they?

Snapping back to now I want to remind everyone that at one time it was all forest around here mostly and the tough settlers had to cut down trees and gather rocks in order to clear the field to plow.

In all Norse sources of traditions and beliefs you will find the story of the Yggdrasil.

This is a special Tree preserved in a new farm field for Good Luck and as a symbol of the connection between the Nine Worlds of the Norse Pagan Tradition. Of which present day Earth is one.

If anyone is interested, I would love to just discuss the Nine Worlds. Not now. 🙂

These Trees were considered guardians and bringers of Luck. I can see why. What a cool symbol to pick! A real old tree and let it stay? Plant around it? See it every day? I love this. I get this. It is not about Christianity vs. Paganism it is just about HOPE.

A symbol of HOPE.

As someone who has been dragged between hope and despair regarding my son’s mortality and making our way in the World and figuring out what Love is, I totally get why stressed people choose hope.

Lottery tickets and fad diets and internet dating sites are modern day vessels of Hope.

My beloved Wisconsin was settled by many Nordic and Germanic people who were oppressed and/ or starving in their Homelands and they headed here…

That takes Bravery.

Also a reasonably open border.

Please note that this is about Trees and not Religion. (or Politics?)

It might be about Immigrants… We’ll see.

Because: In my research I found strong evidence, (I am nothing if not a stickler for cross-references), that the Christian missionaries were instructed to destroy these Trees in those countries back in the day. These Eternal Symbols. These Entities that have lived one hundred years. A threat to conversion is a threat to conversion. Some things will never change.

I am not condemning. Oftentimes we know not what the ramifications of what we do and ALSO it is difficult to go against the crowd.

I just think GOD likes Trees and Hope… Just sayin’.

This one is mine. We have two but this is my favorite. I see it before my turn off the highway; this Tree welcomes me home.

This is the kind of old Oak tree one might tie a yellow ribbon around.

A Tony Orlando and Dawn reference I wonder who will remember?

Nevertheless my friends, you can be sure that Trees deserve some reverence and worship.

They PRODUCE oxygen. That stuff we need.

Besides the food for the many creatures they provide and the shade and protection from predators they provide and the fuel for humans to burn and material to build homes they provide, these amazing creations produce oxygen!

Thank God for Science. Yep I said it.

We learned as kids that you can figure out the age of a tree by counting its’ rings. It needs to be chopped down by Man or Nature first but whatever. Did you know that each ring is the light and the dark together? Also, that the light part is the water record of the amount that the roots were able to glean that year and the dark is the food for the tree that the leaves were able to make through photosynthesis that year?

Dang. Photosynthesis blows my mind.

Yes Virginia, this is all going on all around us all day everyday.

So. Since I have taken you down the nerd road look at this:

These. Are. Leaf Cells.

I don’t expect everyone to see what I see but I can’t NOT say that it comes down to this:

Trees can and will live without us and make no mistake they would surely do much better. But WE cannot live without Trees.

Spring is here and new Life and Hope emerges. The Yggdrssil is becoming a rare sight. Be on the lookout or stop over and I will show you mine and take you to this magnificent old Gal a few miles East. She’s a friend of mine. I can introduce you! 🙂

I am blessed with the most beautiful 10 year old Niece inside and out. She drew this just the other day while visiting me. I think I may demand a Tree drawing from all who visit!

May your roots be deep and strong and may you pass them on… May your trunk be thick and bold and be brave enough to go against the crowd… May your leaves be healthy and your crown shine brightly for all to see. I am here doing my part; you do yours…

I am sitting here in my spot trying to record the mating Owls in the woods with my iPhone in the window so I can try to share with you and I am thinking that I need to step up my game.

If I truly want to infect you and anyone and everyone with the rural, the sky, the slow, the NATURE, and I really truly do, I had better rock some better technology. Yes?

Don’t think I won’t…

Nighttime has its’ noises. The Wolves and Coyotes croon and yip and yap; The Owls are loud when they need to be in order to make more Owls. (wink)

The Morning is all the go getters. The Woodpeckers and other woodpeckers are all slamming into the dead wood having breakfast. The chirpy flitty ones are at the feeder and chatting and wrestling for a spot.

My Mother knew all the names and had informed me many times. I remember some, and I forget others. I was sure there would be more time for me to learn.

I have her, “Birds of Wisconsin”, book but I can’t or haven’t or won’t open it yet…

There are too many post it notes in there and private thoughts; I am still not ready.

Why should I be ready? Who ever is?

It is Spring now on our Earth and our Earth needs brave people and fierce people to convince others that; this planet will not sustain human life if we go as we are. It won’t. IT WON’T. ( the English language has always annoyed me; how is will not made into won’t). Whatever.

You can’t eat money. Cash burns quickly.

All I want is to wake some cool people up. All I want is to rattle some cages. All I want is to try and also not give up. I will never give up. Why should we ever give up?

So, it is Saturday night now and on Sunday I will do the put off and the hard and the heartbreaking so I can mend and get back out on the Battlefield. I will open that Bird book. I will do it for you!

We have to GO. We work we write and blather on and on and chat and dance and sing and go go go! Make it mean something.

Go and Do or Come and Be.

Challenge or Invitation take it as you will.

I can say please come help me make this land amazing; I can say coming here and working with me will be a life-changing experience. It is true and that would happen.

But I warn you that you will be infected with the love of the land and the love of the people who love the land.

I am alone here although there are two other people in the house; my 17 year old Autistic son and my Father who is 79 are here somewhere buthave no desire to talk.

No one wants to play games or toss the ball around or have a dance party or play Scrabble or Cribbage.

It is probably a good thing because anyone who knows me understands that I am curious and enthusiastic and am nervously chattering even when relaxed.

I am jealous of their indifference!

I am excited by people like fans are of their favorite stars. Who are you and what’s your story and where are you from and what do you love to do and the like….

A blessing and a curse I have learned. 🙂

Nevertheless, I am here and putting my hand in for Hokey Pokey and I am ready to turn myself about…

I can’t not be me and that includes double negatives and run- on sentences. :0

I have been in my dirty boots all week trying to fix the Barn windows. I need to keep the birds out. Speaking of birds the Eagles are having a feast on the thawed out roadkill along the county roads…

Best to eat breakfast before you hit the road.

It is my Walt week now and I am back and forth into the City.

There was a time awhile back that I did not notice the smell or the air quality. Now I do. BIG time.

But. People. The early mornings is really where the magic lives; how can I implore you all to get up early and see for yourself?

If I don’t include a picture in my post it will be my eyeball.

The rub and irony is that I have suddenly been having trouble with my eyes. I have reading and writing glasses now but it is not like it used to be glasses or not. Don’t like it . Won’t except it. Need to deny it.

Circle back around is this: There are Humans somewhere that would think of your life and location as amazing; your life would be their vacation.

The food you left on your plate would be their best meal in awhile.

You had better be grateful as Heck for all you have. It can and could and likely will be pecked away…

Alright my Darlings! Goodnight and I and We and Acres are here for your ideas and energy…

I was born a girl and while I did play Hot Wheels with my little Brother and enjoyed showing him how to build trails and jumps in the dirt, and also, how to construct a respectable garage out of twigs and leaves, I also loved to draw and think about Unicorns…And Fairies.

Before I understood through Science the true and unmistakable Magic of this Earth and Universe, I longed for those imaginary imaginings that could transport me from my backyard…

Leprechauns. The Billy goat in the Gruff. Puppet friends on Sesame Street and the Land of Make-Believe through a wonderful man named Mister Roger’s. Oh how I loved the Trolley.

I don’t envy the children of today and truly my heart hurts that they aren’t protected from so much “Reality”.

I was thinking about how as a teen-aged parent I did have the state of mindto watch out for my boys and what they might see and experience. I was blessed with a Mom who was a Kick-Ass Grandma and together she helped me re-create regular, and not insane homemade birthday parties and picnics and walks in the woods at the Nature Center in the City and also here at the Farm. We did craft projects and read to each other and made homemade popcicles.

If you want to blow a kids’ mind make popcicles! (Google it)

Sometimes manytimes I can’t figure out how I am able to function without her.

And. Yet I do. (sort of) We all do. Being “All Grown Up” is weird.

Agree? We were all children once.

What I want to say today is: I am here with my Dad and he has the News on whenever it is on. It is gross. I also read a lot. The BBC News will have a much different take on things and I do know what is going on in Politics and why it makes the NEWS. But it is not ALL there is.

I have to go dig in to my Gardening books to clean it out of my brain. Or Art. I have a Georgia O’Keefe book that will fix me every time.

Don’t grow up to be 79 and watch the news and think it is hopeless. There is always Hope.

Nevertheless…Our job is to grow from where we are planted. Do not let the toxic drama interfere with your destiny.

I know this for a fact: One act of kindness inspires another. One act of selflessness inspires another. One Smile . One Hello. I thank anyone wearing a name tag using their name because I mean it, but also because it feels so great!

I worked as hard as a Farm Girl should today. That storm blew so many things everywhere…

I found the rain barrel in the North woods. Chunks of siding and shingles from the Out Buildings strewn about!

That is an easy fix eventually but the whirly and spinning thing from the tippy top of the Barn blew off and I found it next to my Jeep with no clue what it was or where it came from…

So. This morning I cooked some sausage to coax my Dad down to talk; I really don’t want to bug or alarm him unless I know for sure I should…

Like when the Septic backed up. 😦

At the Farm, the Septic tank is where the bathroom stuff goes…

Anyway, he was super bummed to realize that now the Barn has a pizza- sized hole in the roof. He is 79. I am a girl.

I had already loaded the Pickup with the cardboard, plastic, and glass recycling; in the City you can haul it out with the trash but not in the Country… They have spots to bring it in Cumberland. We had errands to run!

Yep He parks his Truck next to his Tractor…My Dad is badass you don’t even know!

I let him brainstorm while I rode along. The Maple trees are running sap now and the Sappers are scrambling… Fun to watch…bags on trees everywhere!

Did you know that a Maple Tree wants above 32 degree days and below 32 degree nights to give sap the way the Sappers want and need? Did you know that it takes 40 gallons sap to make one gallon of syrup?

Don’t tell but I would say this was one of the best days with my Dad I ever experienced.

We went to the Dollar Store and his Pharmacy, and he picked up cigarettes at the gas station, ( these are nasty things that people get hooked on and if you are ever offered one please run away.)

We wrestled the recycling in the wind and I found three wooden pallets propped up that I grabbed and strained really hard to get in the truck… He acted like he was busy. 😉

I knew and have known, and youknow that cleaning out the Barn is so in My face.

This Barn has seen better days people.

I have been wanting pallets!

Got the pallets, checked the tires for air and on our way back to the Farm we go…

I am reminded of the cool TREE story I promised… I wont forget but I do need good pics, and I swear you will love it.

His idea is to haul some big tubsup in the Barn to catch the rain from the pizza-sized hole in the roof. I can only think that I am not letting him haul anything anywhere…

And I am sure he is worried about me climbing up on the roof of my beloved Barn.

Here is my braggy bit… I did haul all the tubs up the rickety ladder at 40 something years old and tried to position them under the hole in the roof. Then somehow the new pallets I snagged inspired me to shuffle the main level around too.

To move or pick up or dispose of anything in here requires a respiratory mask…Bat poop has a fungus. Two dead birds and one dead bat.. this is Farm girl Shit people. ( Pun intended.)

But look what I found! It is an old tiller and it might work! A hopeful reward for a worky dirty day! Shower time!

I really have never complained about the Asian Lady Bugs that most of you would find disturbing to find in the butter dish every morning…They look like American Lady Bugs.

BUT they want to get in the house in the Fall and many do and then they just wander out one by one… My hair is long and when I washed it, Two fell out.. WHAT? IT is still worth it. I am into this. 🙂